The European Commission has now published a proposal to review pharmaceutical legislation. One objective of the review is to reinforce and improve access to patient oriented and controlled information, including the development of Good Information Practice. In addition, a pilot system will be set up to ensure the availability of patient oriented and valid information on authorized prescription drugs for three types of illnesses - AIDS, diabetes, asthma and chronic bronchitis. These long term, chronic diseases have been chosen based on strong patient demand for information and will cover types of drugs used where these are the same throughout Europe.

Companies will be required to notify the information they intend to distribute to the European Medicines Evaluation Agency for appraisal and will be subject to a code of conduct to be worked out by the Commission in cooperation with industry, patients and Member Countries.

Reference: Pharmaceutical Legislation Review 2001 at http://pharmacos.eudra.org/F2/home.html